The Garden Under Glass

32 THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS be moved about. Later in this book I devote a chapter to the “ Amateur’s Frame,” and there I will briefly show its great value and the many purposes to which it may be put. In most cases it will be best to stand the frame on a solid bottom, where it will not get flooded with water. It is an advantage to stand it on a course of brickwork and to fill up the space beyond the bottom of the woodwork with clinkers covered with coal ashes. The position of the frame depends to a great extent on the plants to be grown, but usually an open position (not bleak) and a Southern aspect are recommended. Skeleton Frames These are formed of rougli planks and left open, except in very severe frosts, when they are covered with mats, tarpaulins, or sheets of corrugated iron. They are very useful for plunging bulbs, for putting plants before or after they are forced and for striking cuttings of hardy plants which during the first year relish a little protection. They are also an excellent shelter for hardening off plants which are eventually to be used in the vegetable or flower garden. It is well to make them of such a size that a tarpaulin or sheets of corrugated iron or ordinary archangel mats will easily cover them. Handlights and Cloches These glass covers are eminently useful for protecting and for forwarding plants. They are used mostly in connection with the vegetable garden, thougli for forwarding Clirist-mas roses and for protecting cuttings they are invaluable. Much has been lieard of the cloche during recent years,